Spring assembly



SPRING AS SEMBLY Filed April 5, 1957 Patented Jan. 31, 1939 PATENT OFFICE SPRING ASSEMBLY George E. Taylor, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Samuel E. Sosna and George E. Taylor, copartners doing business as Company, Chicago, Ill.

Chicago Upholsterers Supply Application April 5, 1937, Serial No. 135,018

2 Claims.

This invention relates to spring assemblies of the kind particularly adapted for use in articles of furniture such as chairs, davenports, etc., and in spring-filled cushions for use in furniture and in automobile seats and the like.

Spring assemblies embodying this invention generally comprise transversely and longitudinally extending rows of convolute springs having cross members such as cords or the like extended across the springs and connected thereto to retain the springs in position. The springs are mounted on a frame generally made of wood but sometimes made of metal and a border wire generally extends around the spring assembly at the tops of the springs, The spring assemblies receive their hardest usage along the front edge thereof and it is desirable to strengthen this front edge to compensate for this usage. It is also desirab-le in many instances that the border wire extend forwardly of the front edge of the frame so that when the springs are compressed by a person sitting on the springs the front edge of the frame will not engage the legs of the individual. Small coil springs have been used to reenforce the front edge of the spring assembly but these springs must necessarily extend vertically above the front edge of the frame and therefore cannot extend forwardly of this front edge. A space equal to a square whose sides are equal to the diameter of the coil of these auxiliary springs must be provided if they are to be used.

The primary object of this invention is to reenforce the front edge of a spring assembly without enlarging the area of the frame.

Another object is to reenforce the front edge of a spring assembly with spring means which will not necessitate the provision of additional space for the reenforcing means.

A further object is to reenforce the front edge of a spring assembly including the iront part of the border wire where the border wire extends forwardly of the frame.

A still further object is to reenforce the front edge of a spring assembly including the front part of the border wire with spring reenforcing means and wherein the front part of the border wire extends forwardly of the frame and without providing additional space on the frame to accommodate the reenforcing means.

A selected embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein Fig, l is a perspective view of a covered spring assembly showing the cover partly broken away;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation of one corner of the spring assembly and showing the spring reenforcing means;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of one corner of the spring assembly and showing the spring reenforcing means; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the reenforcing spring.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown a frame 5 on which a plurality of convolute springs 6 are mounted in side by side relation and in rows. 10 The springs 6 are retained in place by cords 'I tied thereto and by a border wire 8 around the spring assembly at the top the springs. The border wire is fastened to the outside spring of the spring assembly by clips 9. I preferably arrange 15 the front part of the border wire forwardly of the front part of the frame (Figs. 1 and 3) so that an individual sitting on the springs will not engage the front part of the frame with his legs,

A reenforcing spring I0 comprises a coil II, an 20 upper arm I 2 and a lower arm I3. The arms I2 and I3 have end portions I4 and I5 respectively bent at right angles to the arms and inwardly of the spring assembly. The ends of the end portions I6 and Il respectively are bent back 25 in the same general direction as the arms I2 and I3. A hinge clamp I8 is secured to the frame and engages the end portion I5 of the spring I0, which end portion forms the pintle of the hinge. The arm I2 is secured to the side part of the border 30 wire near the free end of the arm by a clip I9 and the end portion It is secured to the front part of the border wire by another clip- 20. The bent ends It and Il of the spring Ill prevent the spring from becoming detached from the spring assembly by slipping out of the clips 20 and hinge I8. The end portion Ill of the spring I0 extends forwardly of the front part of the frame while the end portion I5 is secured on the front part of the frame rearwardly of the forward edge thereof. This construction raises the coil to within relatively close proximity to the side part of the border wire.

An individual sitting on the spring assembly will compress the convolute springs 6 and will 45 lower the forward part of the border wire, This action winds up the coil II as the arm I2 and its end portion I 4 are secured to the front part of the border wire. When the individual rises from the seat the front part of the border wire is snapped up into normal position by the unwinding of the coil II and the reenforcing spring I0.

My invention provides a spring assembly wherein the front border wire is adequately reenforced so that there will be no sagging of the border wire after continued use of the spring assembly. The invention also provides a reenforcing spring which can be applied to spring assemblies of the present type of manufacture Without enlarging the frame or making other provision to permit enough space for use of a reenforcing spring. The invention further provides for a reenforcing spring which will reenforce the front part of a border wire that is arranged forwardly of the front part of the frame. The long lever arm of the arm I2 of the reenforcing spring I insures the immediate resumption of normal position by the spring assembly upon the removal of the weight of an individual therefrom.

While I have illustrated and described a selected embodiment of my invention it is to be understood that this is capable of variation and modication and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the scope of the following claims:

I claim:

l. In a spring assembly consisting of a bottom supporting frame, a top border reinforcing wire spaced from said frame, and a plurality of springs mounted in the frame, a wire reinforcing spring and means for securing the: reinforcing spring to the frame and border Wire; the reinforcing spring consisting of two arms at substantially right angles to one another with an intermediate coil formation integral therewith, the end portion of each arm extending laterally in the same direction with respect to said arms, one laterally extending portion of the reinforcing spring being secured to and parallel with an end portion of the front of the top border wire and extending around an end corner of the top border wire and secured to a side end portion of the top border wire and extending downwardly to said coil formation, and the other laterally bent portion secured to the said frame thereby disposing the coil formation between the top border wire and the frame at one corner thereof in spaced relation to said border wire and said frame whereby to permit flexing of both of said arms and to reinforce the corner of the border wire, and the extreme ends of the arms extending at substantially right angles with respect to each laterally extending portion thereof, thereby preventing dislodgment from the said securing means.

2. A structure as defined in and by claim 1, wherein the said other laterally bent portion is hingedly secured to the frame.

GEORGE E. TAYLOR. 

